The Morning News Update with Barclays, BT, Countrywide and IQE

FTSE 100

BT Group (BT.) – adjusted pre-tax profits in the quarter to September up by 13% at £690 million, dividend for the half year up by 15% at 3.9p per share.

Barclays (BARC) – Group adjusted profit before tax increased 5% to £4.939 billion in the nine months to September. Announces additional £170 million PPI provision.

Aviva (AV.) – Performance in the first nine months of 2014 shows value of new business up 15%, combined operating ratio (COR) has improved one percentage point to 95.9%, expenses are lower and IFRS net asset value per share has increased 10% over the year to 298p.

Royal Dutch Shell (RDSA) – third quarter 2014 earnings, on a current cost of supplies (CCS) basis, were $5.3 billion compared with $4.2 billion.

FTSE 250

Afren (AFR) – Average net production for the nine months to 30 September 2014 at 31,377 bopd, full year 2014 net production guidance range (excluding Barda Rash) maintained at between 32,000 to 36,000 bopd. Posts a net profit of $167 million for the nine months to September, up from $129 million.

RPS Group (RPS) – On track for good growth in 2014 on a constant currency basis. Full year dividend again to be increased 15%

Countrywide (CWD) – EBITDA up by 38% in the third quarter to £40.1 million but house exchanges in London and Premier business fall by 9% after a rebalancing of price expectations between buyers and sellers.  

Small caps

entu (UK) (ENTU) – First day of dealings on AIM for the home improvement group providing energy efficiency products and services to homeowners.

Redde (REDD) – trading profits are ahead of expectations and the corresponding period last year.

Cohort (CHRT) – subsidiary MASS has been awarded a series of contract renewals to provide Electronic Warfare (EW) Operational Support services to an export customer with a total value of approximately £9 million.

Microgen (MCGN) – the Aptitude Software and Financial Systems divisions continue to perform in line with expectations. 

IQE (IQE) – has agreed a long term supply contract for its world leading infrared materials with a leading global semiconductor manufacturer, worth approximately $1.1 million over the next year.